Farewell Parties

For the first time since we arrived, we have to say good bye to somebody. One of our Korean co-teachers that we have all grown very close to is taking her leave at the end of August. It is hard, it damages the security of our workplace knowing that at any point some of our co-workers that we get so used to being there every day could decide to not be there next month. It is also difficult because I know that in less than 10 months we will be saying our own farewells to all of these people.

The good part about saying good bye, is that we get to have a party! For Milly's farewell party we went to the restaurant owned by the uncle of our secretary. The restaurant specializes in duck. We had a table full of banchan when we arrived, featuring Kimchi, spicy crab, candied acorn squash, acorn jelly soup, boiled bok choy, pickled spicy green peppers, and more! Every 3 or 4 spots down the table there was a big empty spot that was to be filled by the main course. Huge platters of smoked duck breast. The duck was cooked perfectly.

The popular way to eat the duck was to soak it in the sweet soy sauce at every space that was mixed with a hot yellow mustard similar to mixing wasabi in soy sauce for sushi. Then put the breast with a mixture of chopped vegetables, also marinated in the sauce, on a piece of lettuce. Then wrap it up and shove it all in, then of course you chase it with either a shot of soju, a glass of beer, or a shot of soju in your glass of beer! Then repeat! I ate so much duck that my butt was quacking all night!

After all of the duck feast the only logical thing at dinner was to bring out a huge bowl of kimchi and pork rib spicy tomato soup. After eating a ridiculous amount of this more food was of course brought out. The most giant mandu (think pot stickers) were brought out. They looked like huge boiled brains, but they were stuffed full of ground pork and spices. I managed to eat half of the half I took before I had to finally give up.

For dessert, we had a pomegranate drinking vinegar, mixed with soju of course! I had never had drinking vinegar before. It is a little sweet and a lot of sour. It was actually quite delicious. After I had maybe four or five portions of dessert the restaurant was closing and kicked us all out.

From there, we went to the noraebang (Karaoke room), where I failed at rapping two, Erin succeeded at rapping, and Michael sang Al Green. We were also introduced to "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm gonna make you move your body," A very catchy and popular Korean pop song.

All in all a fun night, but we are sorry to see Millie go!